Good Data Collection Critical To Quality Healthcare Delivery

The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare has pledged an unflinching support to the Ghana Association of Quasi Government Health Institutions (GAQHI).

He said GHS will provide the Association with all the necessary technical and administrative assistance needed to improve data collection in their various hospital.

In an address read on his behalf, Dr Nsiah-Asare said, the health sector cannot ignore the urgency of having a good and unified data collecting system to help understand the real burden of diseases and to help make informed and evidence based decisions.

He said the availability of a proper healthcare data base will dramatically change the story of universal health coverage and contribute to the accelerated achievement of the SDGs.

Dr Nsiah-Asare made this pledge at GAQHI fifth Biennial Conference held in Accra on Wednesday.

As part of advocacy measures, the GHS boss urged the association and their hospitals to embrace the digital revolution and use it to their advantage.

He said, “We want to collaborate with you and have a common platform for the heads of the emergency units of at least the major hospitals to be able to manage and adequately coordinate, refer and support each other in times of disaster and handling of routine emergencies.”

MOH Support Needed

Meanwhile, the President of GAQHI, Mr Kwasi Darko Aniagyei has stressed on the need for the Ministry of Health (MOH) to fully give its support to the association especially in areas of logistics and consumables needed for the provision of proper health care.

In a welcome address read on his behalf and speaking on the theme: Ghana Association of Quasi―Government Health Institutions at 15, Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward; Mr Aniagyei said it was the duty of MOH to provide their needs but “as our institutions look towards government and MOH to supply our needs, MOH looks towards our parent organizations to provide for us.”

This, the president said has been a huge challenge for the association —making them feel like orphans.

He therefore called on MOH to accord GAQHI improved attention and treatment similar to other agencies of the MOH in order for them to render quality health services to the people of Ghana.

Source: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]